Implantable radiation assembly for circulating systems



March 25, 1969 R ANDERSON ET AL 7 3,434,467

R on ASS M March 25, 1969 D. R. ANDERSON ETAL 3,434,467

IMPLANTABLE RADIATION ASSEMBLY FOR CIRCULATING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 15, 1966' Sheet 2 of 2 IN VENTORS a ,P. mvasesow A 1?. 60am 5e BY United States Patent US. Cl. 1281.1 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An implantable radiation assembly for radiating body fluids has an alpha or beta emitter enclosed in a shielding material such as a stainless steel container. The body fluids are passed through the container either by the body duct such as a vein being positioned within the container or by connecting the body ducts to a plastic tubing which passes through the container.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an implantable radiation assembly for use in a circulatory system of man or animal.

One object of the invention is to provide a device for delivering maximum therapeutic or experimental ionizing radiation doses to circulating body fluids with a minimum close delivered to surrounding tissue.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for radiating body fluids which eliminates the exteriorized encumbrances such as tubing, lead containers, heating and the use of anticoagulants.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for radiating body fluids wherein restraints to prevent detachment are unnecessary and which solves the problem of inadvertent disconnection.

These and other objects will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an expanded view of the radiation device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the radiation device of FIG. 1 in its closed condition around a vein or an artery; and

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of a modified radiation device according to the invention.

Present techniques used in radiating body fluids involve the use of exteriorized circuits to permit body fluids to flow in close proximity to a gamma source enclosed in a lead container. With this system continuous ultraviolet sterilization, heating and anticlotting devices are usually needed for the successful performance of such apparatus.

According to this invention, an implanted radiation assembly i provided which uses short range alpha or beta emitters for radiating body fluids in situ thus making exteriorized procedures and accessories unnecessary, The alpha or beta emitters are enclosed in a shielding material such as stainless steel, which may be implanted in an experimental animal or a patient undergoing radiation treatment. The shield container will protect adjacent tissue from the ionizing radiation.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawing which shows a container having two hinged closure members 11 and 12 and two hinged end members 13 and 14. The members 11, 12, 13 "and 14 are made of a shielding material which would not be reactive with body tissue such as, one of the noble metals or stainless steel. When 3,434,467 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 a beta emitter is used a plastic material will provide suflicient shielding and may be used. The closure members 11 and 12 have a plurality of alpha or beta emitters 16 secured to the inner wall thereof. The particular emitters used will be determined by the particular radiation treatment desired. Emitters that could be used are for example radioactive gold foil or cesium held by means of an adhesive between two layers of Mylar. The emitters may be secured to the closure members 11 and 12 by means of an adhesive. A layer 18 of protective plastic is wrapped around the vein 17. The plastic layer 18 and end members 13 and 14 keep the vein or other body tissue from coming into contact with emitters 16. While 17 has been described as a vein it is to be understood that it could be any other duct through which body fluids normally flow. The end members 13 and 14 have projections 19 which fit into grooves 21 in the closure members 11 and 12. A plurality of retainer members 22 having holes 23 therethrough fit into slots 26 on closure member 11. A longitudinal hole 27 is drilled in closure member 11. The hole 27 is made to align with holes 23 when the container 10 is closed. A wire 28 is passed through the holes to retain the container in its closed position.

An alternate method for delivering a radiation dose to circulating body fluids is provided by the device of FIG. 3. In this device, radioactive isotopes such as iodine or potassium in an isotonic saline solution is shown at 40 in a stainless steel container 41. A pair of tubular members 43 and 44 pass through the cap member 46. A closed loop of plastic tubing 47 is secured to members 43 and 44 and is immersed in the radioactive solution 40 when the cap is attached to the container 41. A gasket seal 48 is provided in cap 46. The seal keeps the radioactive solution from contacting surrounding body tissue. Plastic tubes 50 and 51 are secured to tubes 42 and 43, respectively. The tubes 50 and 51 are provided to connect the radiation assembly between an artery and a vein. When attached in this manner the blood is irradiated as it flows from the artery to the vein through the radiation device.

There is thus provided a radiation device for use in a circulatory system of man or animal, which eliminates the problems encountered when using exteriorized artery to vein or vein to vein circuits.

While certain embodiments have been described, it is obvious that numerous changes may be made without departing from the general principle and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A device for delivering ionizing radiation doses to circulating body fluids in situ, comprising: a pair of semicylindrical closure members of shielding material, nonreactive with body tissue; a hinge interconnecting said two closure members; a pair of hinged end members of shielding material, nonreactive with body tissue; said end members having central openings therein, adapted to receive a body duct member passing therethrough; means for retaining said end members within the end portions of said closure members; fastening means for holding said closure members in their closed position; means, secured to the inner surface of each of said closure members, for supplying a predetermined dosage of radiation to said body fluids within the duct passing therethrough; and means, adapted to surround said body duct member, for preventing contact between said body duct member and said radiation means.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said closure members and said end members are stainless steel.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said radiation means is a layer of radioactive material between two layers of Mylar.

3 4 4. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein said means FOREIGN PATENTS for preventing contact between said body duct member and 600,716 7/1934 Germany said radiation means is a sheet of plastic.

WILLIAM .E. KAMM, Primary Examiner.

References Cited 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS U.S.CI.X.R.

2,479,882 8/1949 Wallhausen et a1. 250-106 250-106 2,968,734 1/1961 Yeomans 250--106 

